For those of you not familiar, Get To Know In 7 is a quick 7 question interview that I come up on the spot when I have the opportunity to chat with a member of a band. Usually a band that I’m really digging at the time, and the questions aren’t the usual interview questions. Sure they might seem a little simple and dumb, but the answers can be interesting. I had the opportunity to present the 7 to both members of Twin Tigers and Dead Confederate, two bands that hail from Athen’s GA, when they were in town for Fun Fun Fun Fest a few weeks back. Read more

We all love reading interviews with our favorite bands, and the interviews usually cover a lot of the same stuff, how the band got started, new album details, etc., etc., etc. Coming into contact with quite a few artists on a regular basis, I figured I could prepare a short set of short answer questions that I could deliver without having to go into a lengthy sit session of talking and editing. This is the forth in what I hope to be a long series of “Get To Know In 7″ and any suggestions or recommendations on questions that you might want used in future editions, please, please, let me know.

Blind Pilot’s 3 Rounds and A Sound has quickly become one of my favorite indie, folk-rock inspired recordings of the year. Hailing from Portland, OR is no surprise as that area seems rife with great musical talent, especially in the vein of this style. Patient, delicate, poetic, and gentle. The band started as a project between two college friends Isreal Nebeker and Ryan Dobrowski and has grown into a group of musically talented friends that are delivering, what some might argue, are the sounds of the next breakout indie band from Portland. The live show would surely support that argument as would the recent addition to support another little band from the Northwest called The Decemberists. The delicate sounds of the band are only magnified live with the multitude instrumentation, including the sweet sounds of a xylophone, a little bit of banjo, a stand up bass, and many more. Recommended for anyone looking to chase away the negatives of daily life and wanting to put a smile on their face, which is exactly what they did last Tuesday night @ The Mohawk.

I sat down with the soft-spoken frontman Isreal Nebeker for a quick chat and 7 questions. Thanks to Nebeker and company for the music, and taking a moment to answer these ridiculous questions.

1. What’s your favorite color? “I don’t think I have one. I like a lot. I like mauve a lot, it’s interesting color, and it wasn’t even invented until the late 1800′s.”
2. Name one must own album/record: “Paul Simon’s Graceland”
3. Name one person dead or alive that you would like to meet: “I’ll say Jesus Christ. Ghandi. I’m changing it to Ghandi.”
4. First record or song you remember listening to that had an impact on you. “Can I change my record one to Neutral Milk Hotel In The Aeroplane Over the Sea? and this one to Paul Simon’s Graceland?
5. Last record or cd that you played and enjoyed: “I really like MGMT, their album”
6. What’s your favorite season of the year and why? “Fall. Because..Summer is over too quick, and by the time Fall comes you still have great weather and you got to do all the swimming and camping because Winter is coming.”
7. One word to describe your band: “Excited”

Blind Pilot have every reason to be excited, and hopefully you’ll get out to see what this excitement is all about. I highly recommend the music and the live performance.

MP3> Blind Pilot ‘Two Towns From Me’

Watch the video for “Go Say It”

We all love reading interviews with our favorite bands, and the interviews usually cover a lot of the same stuff, how the band got started, new album details, etc., etc., etc. Coming into contact with quite a few artists on a regular basis, I figured I could prepare a short set of short answer questions that I could deliver without having to go into a lengthy sit session of talking and editing. This is the third in what I hope to be a long series of “Get To Know In 7″ and any suggestions or recommendations on questions that you might want used in future editions, please, please, let me know.

I have to thank Manchester Orchestra’s Andy Hull for pointing me in the direction of the band Colour Revolt. I don’t often take to recommendations easily, but every time I saw Andy play he was sporting a Colour Revolt t-shirt, and just about every time we have spoken, the band’s name came up along with his outpouring of admiration for their work. It took me awhile, but once hooked, I can’t get enough of Colour Revolt’s recorded material as well as their live shows. It remains all of a mystery to me why this band hasn’t made more headway in the music scene, but what they have managed to accomplish should solidify the band’s existence long enough for me to get my fill.

After releasing their first EP, the Oxford, MS band found itself signing on to Fat Possum records for their full length recording Plunder, Beg, and Curse which found release earlier this year. The band balanced touring and the remainder of college until the members finished out their college years with graduation in May. The constant touring schedule since has found them taking festival stage @ both Monolith and ACL, along with a myriad of touring partners, some of which fail to compliment the bands style of music.

Colour Revolt’s sound is layered in guitars that swirl and attack in complex structures, while Coppenbarger works his way into lyrical wailing, questioning the life issues that every 20-something year old should question. Dark at times, delving into spirituality and some of the more unpleasant elements of the constant struggles of the human spirit. I highly recommend a listen if you aren’t familiar.

Plunder, Beg, and Curse landed the 35 spot on Paste Magazines top 50 for 2008.

I caught up with Jesse awhile back when the band was in town for a quick session of 7 questions.

1. What’s your favorite color? “It used to be baby blue, but then I think about it as, would I want baby blue instruments? And I don’t really think so, but I’ll stick with baby blue.”

2. Your favorite season and why? “The end of fall. It’s a good feeling. It’s nice in Mississippi because it’s not cold yet, it’s still t-shirt weather. And I’m a big Halloween fan.”

3. Name one must own album. “Medúlla by Bjork”

4. Favorite aspect of being in this band? “We can travel pretty light. We all grew up together, so we’re all pretty good friends. It’s pretty easy to be in this band, because we all share the weight.”

5. One person, dead or alive, that you would want to meet. “Abraham Lincoln. I just found this series of magazines that are dedicated to letters by presidents and they have one magazine that is completely dedicated to Abraham Lincoln. I starting reading it and that guy is totally awesome.”

6. Name one album or band you are really into right now. “Harvey Milk from Athens. It’s older dudes playing sludge metal. It’s not shred metal, it’s pretty listenable, and it’s good.”

7. Vinyl, CD, or MP3? “Vinyl”

I think it’s time to get rid of some of these questions.

Thanks to Jesse for bearing with me and answering my questions. It’s always to pleasure to run into Colour Revolt and watch the band perform live. Hopefully we’ll see them around these parts during SXSW 2009.

If you didn’t notice in the picture, Jesse is a big fan of the Puddle of MVD.

MP3> Colour Revolt ‘Swamp’

Photo by: Briana Purser

We all love reading interviews with our favorite bands, and the interviews usually cover a lot of the same stuff, how the band got started, new album details, etc., etc., etc. Coming into contact with quite a few artists on a regular basis, I figured I could prepare a short set of short answer questions that I could deliver without having to go into a lengthy sit session of talking and editing. This is the third in what I hope to be a long series of “Get To Know In 7″ and any suggestions or recommendations on questions that you might want used in future editions, please, please, let me know.

The self proclaimed “loudest band in Brooklyn” (and I’m not one to argue), A Place to Bury Strangers are currently touring the country in support of NIN, while taking the occasional gig on off days supporting Reznor and company. The band made a stop in Austin, to bring it’s “total sonic anniliation” agenda to Emo’s. Once again, I cannot argue the claim of “total sonic annihilation”, as it was truly an aural onslaught of effect drenched guitars and vocals cutting through the smoky haze like a chainsaw thru jello. I’ve seen a few bands that push the envelope of loud, and until this night, Bob Mould’s band Sugar, held the top spot on this list. It’s taken a few years, but I believe that spot may now belong to APTBS.

Aside from leading the sonic charge for the band as guitarist and vocalist, Oliver Ackerman also designs and builds guitar pedals. Ackerman’s Death by Audio is not just a pedal company, it’s also the name of a compound that serves as a practice space, workshop, art collective, and live music venue to many, including the members of APTBS. Aside from being essential to APTBS’s sound, Death by Audio pedals have found their way to the stage and studio with members of Spoon, T.V. On the Radio, Wilco, and NIN.

Ackerman took a few minutes before the set on Sunday night, to answer 7 questions, for my continuing series Get to Know In 7.

1. What is your birth city? “Allentown, PA.”

2. What is your favorite season and why? “I guess I like Fall, cuz it’s cool, everything’s dying, and it turns all pretty colors. You know it’s kinda psychedelic, and I like some psychedelics”

3. What is your favorite physical attribute of women? “Shoot, I don’t know man, I like the whole thing. It’s hard to say, I like women..I like all sorts.

4. What’s your favorite part of being on the road? “All the different parts of women. No, I’m just joking. You know, just getting out, meeting different people, getting away from home.”

5. If you had to choose one pedal that you couldn’t live without, which one would it be? “I would choose the Octave Clang. Even though I don’t use it all the time, it still sounds f****** sweet.I’m always surprised by the great sounds, and love it.”

6. Last album/recording you selected to play. “Probably some band nobody’s ever heard of before, Heaven Piano Company.”

7. Vinyl, CD, or Mp3? “I like vinyl you know. I like records, but I love Mp3′s too. I like having records, I like holding mp3s though, I like the feel. Not the cheap ones though, extra bitrate, those are the best ones.”

Oliver Ackerman has a funny side. The band has a full shedule of shows in North America booked well into the later part of October. I recommend you check them out, but be sure to bring ear plugs. Seriously.

MP3> A Place to Bury Strangers ‘I Know I’ll See You’

photo courtesy of Ali Bagheri & The Austinist

We all love reading interviews with our favorite bands, and the interviews usually cover a lot of the same stuff, how the band got started, new album details, etc., etc., etc. Coming into contact with quite a few artists on a regular basis, I figured I could prepare a short set of short answer questions that I could deliver without having to go into a lengthy sit session of talking and editing. This is the second in what I hope to be a long series of “Get To Know In 7″ and any suggestions or recommendations on questions that you might want used in future editions, please, please, let me know.

Seattle’s Fleet Foxes played to a sold out crowd @ the Mohawk on Wednesday night, much to the surprise of the band’s vocalist Robin Pecknold. Robin told me he was expecting a bit of a smaller crowd, somewhere in neighborhood of 10 or so? A humble guy, who comes across kind and gentle when speaking, obviously unaware of effect that his music is having on music fans around the globe.A sold out show @ the Mohawk is no easy feat and hasn’t happened very often. The fact that this sleepy band from the Northwest maxed out the venue this night, speaks volumns of the rapidly growing popularity of the band and it’s music. Robin took a few minutes to answer 7 with me, while manning the merch table after Wednesday’s performance.

1. What is your birth city? “Seattle”
2. Favorite color? “Green. Forest Green”
3. Last recording you put on to listen to? “Dungen” Which album? “Actually, their new record. It’s called 4, and comes out in September.”
4. Favorite piece of clothing? “This hat. It hides my hideous hair.”
5. Name a person, dead or alive, you would like to meet. After minutes of considering his response…”I would like to meet (pause) this is so hard (pause) Genghis Khan. It’d be a trip.”
6. Favorite season of the year and why? “Winter, because you can get stuff done. “
7. Vinyl, CD, or mp3? “Well, I listen to most music on mp3, but the music I like the best, I listen to on vinyl.”

I’ll be the first to admit that I was a bit hesitant to get on board with the Fleet Foxes and their music, but it’s become almost impossible to deny myself the pleasure of the music and the band anymore. The music flows peaceful and tranquil like a river through the seasons of the year while Robin’s reverb drenched vocals beckon to soothe the most frayed of souls.

MP3> Fleet Foxes ‘White Winter Hymnal’

The band looks to be on the road for the remaining of this year with an quick spin in support of Wilco. If you missed the Mohawk performance, look for the band to come back around this way in the fall.

Fleet Foxes Tour: Read more

Scott Hutchison

This is a new little experiment in trying to be a bit more creative with the site, so please be patient with me as I fine tune this idea, hopefully with some help from you.

We all love reading interviews with our favorite bands, and the interviews usually cover a lot of the same stuff, how the band got started, new album details, etc., etc., etc. Coming into contact with quite a few artists on a regular basis, I figured I could prepare a short set of short answer questions that I could deliver without having to go into a lengthy sit session of talking and editing. This is my first attempt, and I realize it needs some serious tweaking, but you got start somewhere, right?

First off, thanks to Scott Hutchison for being my guinea pig in this little experiment. He was very cooperative and gracious. Frightened Rabbit played their second show in Austin, @ the Mohawk to be exact, within two weeks, and judging by the size of the crowd last night and the reaction, seem to be on the right track and generating quite the buzz along the way.

Get to Know in 7: Scott Hutchison from Frightened Rabbit

1. What year were you born? “1981″
2. What’s your favorite color? “Dusky sky blue”
3. Last album or record you chose to listen to or selected? “Cease to Begin, Band of Horses”
4. Favorite piece of clothing? “Until recently it was a pair of shoes that I’ve had to replace because they smelled so bad”
5. Deceased artist or person that you wish you could meet? “Ummm, I would love to meet John Candy. Yeah, why not?”
6. Boxers, briefs, thong, or commando? “Boxer/commando in lieu of the laundry situation”
7. Vinyl, CD, or MP3? “All of the above, I have no actually format to play any of those things at this point in time, so yeah, all. Maybe supermarket stereo would be the place I hear most music.”

Frightened Rabbit’s folk infused style of indie-rock has my attention, and their most recent release The Midnight Organ Fight is definitely one of my favorite releases of 2008. The musicianship is great and the lyrics are raw, real, and humorous at the same time. Don’t miss the opportunity to catch this band on the road this time around.

MP3> Frightened Rabbit ‘My Backwards Walk’

Frightened Rabbit Myspace for Tour Dates

Video:”Heads Roll Off”